| • |
Read
the online help and search tips whenever using a database
that you do not understand fully. |
| • |
Do
not limit your searches to full text.
-- Although this option is tempting, most items are not available
full text.
-- Also, many publishers place embargoes (waiting periods) on
periodical articles and do not put the articles online until
they have been available in print for specific time periods,
which range from a few weeks to many months. |
| • |
Limit
searches, when possible, by type of resource
(popular, scholarly, etc.) and/or by document type
(article, editorial, review, etc.) to locate items that best
fit your information need. |
| • |
Use
keyword searches because they are often more productive
than subject term searches due to the restrictions imposed by
controlled vocabularies. |
| • |
Look
for an online thesaurus or subject term list in the database
to help you determine search terms. |
| • |
Use
the subject headings that appear in article records
as search terms. |
| • |
Look
at the complete records for all items that sound promising.
Gather ideas from the records to use when creating other searches
or use the links in the records to conduct searches. |
| • |
Watch
for bibliographies or suggested readings that may accompany
articles. |
| • |
Spell
search terms correctly because database search technologies
require precision. |
| • |
Email
relevant search results to yourself when possible.
|
| • |
Collect
all necessary bibliographic information as you research. |
| • |
Use
the "print" key inside the database's interface
to gain access to print choices not available if you use the
browser's print key. |
| • |
Use
the navigational buttons that are part of the database's interface
instead of the ones for your web browser's interface. Many databases
are not designed to work with browser buttons. |
